Why is an Annual Physical Therapy Check-Up Important?

Everyone is used to different types of regular check-ups, whether it’s for you, your family, or things that you use on a regular basis.

Most dentists recommend a check-up twice per year. They check for signs or risks of gum disease, oral cancer, or other dental problems, also knowing that some problems can indicate overall health. During your exam, they will likely do x-rays and a cleaning while you’re there.

People go to their primary care physician for an annual physical, looking at general, systemic health. Typically, an annual physical will include tests like blood work, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature. They will ask about diet and exercise. They will ask about other questions and concerns that you may have.

Here’s the question that I’d like to challenge you with: Why don’t we do regular check-ups for our bodies as a movement system – the very thing that quite literally gets us from Point A to Point B, the thing that gets us through our day, and the thing that allows us to work, play with our kids, and participate in a sport or activity? Over time, our muscles can tighten, our joints can stiffen, and our body begins to compensate for these changes. Eventually, this can contribute to other larger problems, like degenerative joint disease, knee or shoulder pain, back or neck pain, etc. Our bodies are great at determining the path of least resistance. Unfortunately, this does not necessarily mean that this is being achieved in the best, most efficient way, or in the way that our bodies are built to do it. Now again I ask, why don’t we do regular check-ups for our bodies as a movement system? It’s a great way to catch something before it becomes a bigger and more painful problem.

Another important thing to know – most states are Direct Access, meaning that you don’t have to see a physician before consulting your local physical therapist. The goal is to keep you going, pain-free, rather than becoming reliant on pain medicine, being sidelined with lost days of work, limiting interactions with your family, or seeking out surgery. Insurance may not cover this sort of preventative assessment and treatment, and not all physical therapy clinics offer this specific service of annual physical therapy screens or physicals.

At Back in Step Physical Therapy, we currently offer two kinds of annual physicals – one for the general public and one for dancers/performing artists. In either case, you’ll be seen one-on-one with a Doctor of Physical Therapy for a session to complete the evaluation. The therapist will then take some time to compile your results, and will later meet with you for an additional, shorter session on another day to give you your results. The cost covers both the evaluation session and the results session. Cost and length of sessions vary, depending upon which annual physical exam you choose.

So the next time that you’re scheduling your dental check-up, or taking your car in for it’s 3000 mile oil change, contact us at Back in Step Physical Therapy to schedule your Annual Physical Therapy Exam for your “body tune-up”!